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Radio History

Radio History. MIT2000. Early Radio: Main Themes. Wired/Wireless Bi-directional: one to one Uni-directional Central transmitter to passive receivers “broadcasting” Public interest/commercial interest. Radio/Technology. R adio waves electro-magnetic energy, radiating in waves

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Radio History

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  1. Radio History MIT2000

  2. Early Radio: Main Themes • Wired/Wireless • Bi-directional: one to one • Uni-directional • Central transmitter to passive receivers • “broadcasting” • Public interest/commercial interest

  3. Radio/Technology • Radio waves • electro-magnetic energy, radiating in waves • Heinrich Hertz (1888) • lab experiments • ‘telegraph without wires’ (Hertzian waves)

  4. Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) • Land-Ship • Trans-Atlantic signal (1901) • Marconi Wireless Telegraph & Signal Co • trans-Atlantic • first commercial service

  5. Reginald Fessenden (1866-1932) • first voice transmission • “radiotelephone”(1900) • Shore-to-ship “broadcast” 1906

  6. Early “Radio-Telegraph” • Morse Code • Shipping/distress calls • Titanic (1912) • Simultaneity of Experience • Worldwide Network

  7. Amateur Radio • Technical expertise • home-made radio sets • Exploratory listening-distance • Middle-class boys/men • Unregulated frequencies • Bi-directional

  8. Amateur Radio • Pranks • “All Titanic Passengers Safe” • Obscene/false messages • Lots of radio traffic • Radio Act of 1912 (US)

  9. World War I (1914-18) • Military control • Naval/ Shell-spotting • Ban citizen use • Post-1918, oppose: • amateur uses • foreign ownership

  10. Early Broadcast Radio • One-to-one: • DXing, 1920-1924 • Voice/sound • One-to-many: Broadcasting • (Telephone “Broadcasters”) • Frank Conrad/KDKA, 1920 • XWA, Montreal, 1920 • RCA, 1921

  11. Early Radio • 1921: 2 radio stations • 1925: 100s in US/CDA • Dept stores; churches newspapers; universities • Non-commercial origins • Public interest/limited spectrum

  12. Network Radio: AT&T (1925) • 25-station network • long distance lines • sell time on transmitters, “air time,” to advertisers • purchase blocks/ provide own programming

  13. NBC (1926-) public service high-brow non-sponsored programming Symphony theatre, etc. CBS (1928-) more advertising ad agencies produce shows soaps; crime dramas “lowest common denominator” Content/Culture: Commercial Radio

  14. Programming • Music: classical & dance bands (Tommy Dorsey) • Variety Shows: (Bob Hope) • Drama • daytime serial –”Guiding Light” • evening anthology: “Mercury Theater on the Air” • Children’s Shows • Comedy: “Li'l Abner”; “Amos ‘n’ Andy”

  15. US Private ownership (NBC, CBS) Advertising-supported Popular fare UK BBC: government-run monopoly Taxes, license fees High-brow/cultural uplift Radio as Mass Medium, ca. 1935

  16. Radio in Canada • Radio-Telegraph Act, 1913 • Dept. Marine & Fisheries • XWA, first license (1919) • $1 licence fee per set

  17. CDN Radio • 1928: 60 stations • low power; intermittent service • Roy Thomson, CFCH • minimal regulations • diverse ownership • selling radio sets • Edward S. Rogers • Entertainment/Commercial

  18. Networking: CNR Radio Dept • first network, mid-1920s • concerts, operas, plays, health talks, grain price reports • 3 hours weekly, 1929

  19. US Radio in CDA • Radio-wave interference • US listening (80%) • NBC w/ Montreal affiliate • Can CDN radio compete?

  20. Aird Commission • Royal Commission on Broadcasting, 1928-29 • John Aird • state broadcasting organization, modelled on BBC • foster national spirit/citizenship • nationalize private radio stations, with compensation • ‘defensive expansionism’

  21. Road to Public Ownership • Canadian Radio League, 1930 • Graham Spry • “The State or the United States”

  22. Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, 1932 • State monopoly on network broadcasting • Extend radio coverage • Produce/transmit programs • Purchase/construct stations/transmitters • CRBC stations/private stations • Partisanship

  23. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 1936 • More autonomy • Assured funding • Dual function

  24. CBC: Carrier/Content • 8 stations; 16 private affiliates • Strong transmitters • US/UK shows (entertainment, talk) • Canadian content • “The Happy Gang”; NHL;

  25. Commercial interest Corporate power NBC/CBS Low-Brow Culture Entertainment Advertising-supported Public Interest “The State” BBC/CBC High-Brow Culture Educational Tax/license fee supported “Peculiar Hybrid” of CDN Radio

  26. Midterm Exam: Feb. 25, 7-9pm • Section 1 (5X5 =25 points) • Identify/Significance of 5 of 8 terms, concepts • Section 2 • 15 multiple choice questions (15 points) • 2 hours • Closed Book • Covers Lectures and Readings

  27. Sample Question: “The State or the United States” • Graham Spry; chairman Canadian Radio League • early 1930s lobby for Aird Commission recommendations re: public broadcasting • McChesney article • culminate in 1932; est. of Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission

  28. “The State or the United States” • State: government as bulwark against US broadcasting which predated broadcasting in Canada • high culture/ low culture • Canadian sovereignty /US cultural/economic imperialism

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